Celebrate democracy this 4th of July by taking the necessary steps to vote in the 2014 U.S. elections!
In order to vote in the November 2014 elections, ALL overseas U.S. citizens need to have completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in 2014. Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each year to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.
If you would like to pick up a Federal Post Card Application or drop off your completed application for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch free of charge, please visit the U.S. Embassy booth (or the Democrats Abroad booth or the Republicans Abroad booth) at the American Colony Independence Day celebration on the grounds of the Cervecería Costa Rica from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4. For additional information on this event, please see
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/05/4thOfJulyInCR2014.html
If you can’t make it to this event, you can always get voting assistance from the embassy or drop off your completed voting forms and ballots, addressed to your local election officials, any Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm, excluding Costa Rican and U.S. holidays.
A drop box is located for quick drop off in the guard booth at the entrance to the Consular Section at the Embassy. Please bring your valid U.S. passport if you would like to speak with a voting assistance officer. Normal transit time for applications and ballots from Costa Rica to the United States is 10 to 15 days.
If you have never voted while overseas before, the process is easy -- just follow these steps:
1. Complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee in past elections, complete an FPCA to receive your ballot this fall. It allows you to register to vote and request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (presidential and state primaries, run-off, special, and the November general elections) during the course of the year in which you submit the FPCA. Local election officials in all U.S. states and territories accept the FPCA.
The online voting assistant available at FVAP.gov is an easy way to complete the FPCA. It will ask you questions specific to your state and tell you if electronic ballot delivery is possible. No matter in which state you vote, we encourage you to ask your local election officials to deliver your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state). Be sure to include your email address to take advantage of electronic delivery. The online voting assistant will generate a printable FPCA, which you can then print and sign.
2. Submit the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
See the information at the beginning of this message for options to drop off your FPCA in person to the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.
If it’s more convenient for you, you can have a friend or family member drop off your FPCA to the embassy on your behalf or you can send your FPCA or ballot directly to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense.
3. Receive Your Ballot
After submitting your FPCA, most states allow you to confirm online your registration and ballot delivery selection. States are now required to send out ballots 45 days before an election for federal office(President, U.S. Senate, or U.S. House of Representatives) to any overseas U.S. citizen who has completed an FPCA.
4. Return Your Ballot
As with the FPCA, you can return your voted ballot to your local election officials free of charge via the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or mail it directly at your own expense.
OTHER OPTIONS:
VoteFromAbroad.org
Your Vote Counts
Many U.S. elections within the past 10 years have been decided by a margin of victory of less than 0.1%. All states are required to count every absentee ballot as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline (differs by state).
Be an educated voter. Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues is widely available and easy to obtain via numerous websites such as Project Smart Voter.
You can also read national and hometown newspapers online, and search the Internet to locate articles and information.
To receive information by email about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP's Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact Embassy San Jose’s Voting Assistance Officer at (506) 2519-2590, or at ACSSanJose@state.gov
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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/06/AmericansLivingAbroadReregisterToVote.html
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